Shanghai – September 19, 2026 -- WuXi XDC Cayman Inc. (2268.HK) has out-licensed its proprietary WuXiTecan-2 payload-linker technology platform to Ona Therapeutics under an exclusive global agreement targeting a single antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidate.
Deal structure includes upfront payment, milestones and tiered royalties
The agreement grants Ona Therapeutics exclusive global rights to develop an ADC candidate using WuXi XDC's WuXiTecan-2 platform. The total potential deal value comprises an upfront payment plus development, regulatory and sales milestone payments, with WuXi XDC also eligible for tiered royalties on net sales once the resulting product reaches commercialization. WuXi XDC will additionally provide chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) development and manufacturing support through its integrated ADC CRDMO platform.
Second collaboration builds on 2024 licensing agreement
The partnership marks the second deal between the two companies in the ADC space, following a 2024 collaboration in which Ona Therapeutics licensed technologies for its ADC pipeline. WuXi XDC CEO Jimmy Li said the WuXiTecan-2 platform, which uses a hydrophilic linker to enhance ADC stability, has now completed two out-licensing deals within six months.
Ona combines target discovery with WuXi XDC's payload technology
Ona Therapeutics, a spin-off from IRB Barcelona and ICREA based at the Barcelona Science Park, will pair its target discovery capabilities with the WuXiTecan-2 platform to advance a first-in-class ADC candidate against treatment-resistant cancers. Ona co-founder and CEO Valerie Vanhooren said the renewed partnership builds on the companies' prior collaboration as the program moves toward clinical development.